Recap - Capitals 5, Rangers 3
by David Getz on Apr 27, 2009 8:47 AM EDT
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With an offensive core as explosive as the one the Capitals have it's not all that often the team is going to be carried by its blueliners, especially in the offensive end. But that's what happened yesterday afternoon as Tom Poti's four points (one goal, three assists), complimented by goals from Milan Jurcina and Mike Green, set the tone for Game Six and again ended Henrik Lundqvist's night after only forty minutes.
The chance for the defense to step to the forefront is well-deserved for an oft-criticized and under-appreciated group that has done well in the series against the Rangers. True, the Rangers aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut, and there's certainly the chicken-or-the-egg debate of whether the team is shutting down the Rangers because of Simeon Varlamov or whether Simeon Varlamov's solid play is proving the Capitals defense is better than people thought, but there's no denying the results. In the five games Varlamov has started the Capitals have allowed just six goals (1.20 per game), 130 shots (26 per game), and have shut the Rangers out twice - bad news for a New York team that suddenly looks awfully shaky in their own end.
Some additional thoughts on yesterday's game:
- Donald Brashear skated 2:30, picked up four penalty minutes, and knocked Blair Betts out of the game with a hit that can charitably be described as "questionable". Chris Clark can't get healthy fast enough.
- While we're on the topic of questionable, um, hits, the Rangers are alleging Shaone Morrisonn bit Brandon Dubinsky during yesterday's game. Combine that with the Brashear hit and the Capitals' reputation is headed in a direction we're not entirely comfortable with.
- Bruce Boudreau gets credit for keeping the minutes of his most important players reasonable (Alex Ovechkin skated 20:50; Alex Semin 15:50, as examples) but Eric Fehr only getting 3:25 in a game like yesterday's is a head-scratcher. We're approaching Steve Eminger-esque levels of inexplicably low ice time here, people.
- Big game require focus, and the Capitals indisputably demonstrated it very well in one area yesterday afternoon. The team was not credited with a giveaway. Not. One. Single. Giveaway.
- Sean Avery looked completely lost most of the game - this isn't the first time the question has been raised, but it's worth raising again: Is it possible for Avery to play his aggressive style and still remain in control of himself?
- It was another solid game for the Caps in the faceoff dot as only one Caps player, David Steckel, was below 57%. Of course, Steckel's two assists and +1 rating help to mitigate that dubious distinction.
- Tom Poti seemed to relish his Madison Square Garden reception. Looks like Ovie's not the only one who likes it when a hostile crowd gets on him.
- Before yesterday, Henrik Lundqvist had never been pulled in consecutive starts in his NHL career.
Here's hoping for a better Game Seven result in a scenario that seems awfully familiar. Oh, psst, here's a tip on how to get that result - glove side, high.
Win one game. Do it four three two times.
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Brashear will be gone,
1) Combining the Betts hit and pregame shenanagans, would expect Brashear to miss game 7 with a suspension.
2) The question is whether there is sufficient evidence to ‘convict’ Morrisonn of pulling a Tyson on Dubinsky? Very odd/weird series of events there.
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
Question:
If that hit hadn’t been so delayed, would people still be so harsh on Brash?
If the guy had seen it coming / had been paying attention, I don’t think it would have turned out so bad because it looked like a legal shoulder hit otherwise.
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
The problem with the hit is that it WAS so delayed and after the play had passed…makes it borderline at best, and Brashear’s reputation pushes it over the edge.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Apr 27, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The “great” thing about the Brash play is that it allows us Caps fans to feel as if we’re without bias and taking the high road because we believe one of our own should be suspended.
But if it was AO whose Game 7 fate was in question, every last one of us would be arguing that it was worth, at most, five minutes and that a suspension would be ridiculous.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 27, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
AO is too fast for a hit to ever come late.
by zephyr on Apr 27, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
But if it was AO whose Game 7 fate was in question, every last one of us would be arguing that it was worth, at most, five minutes and that a suspension would be ridiculous.
Probably, but I really felt badly for Betts. The kid shouldn’t have his season ended for no good reason. I railed against Lucic for a year for what he did to Pothier and Brash’s hit was far worse in terms of lateness and vulnerability
Don’t get me wrong – it was a bad, bad hit and I agree on Betts. I’m just saying it’s easier for most to come on this side of it, given who the offender is.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’m just saying it’s easier for most to come on this side of it, given who the offender is.
Yeah, but at the end of the day, we are taking the high road.
If it were, say, Colton Orr on David Steckel, the Rags fans would be screeching in Orr’s defense.
We’re higher-minded.
I don’t know, if it was even close, we would probably be defending Brash, or at least remarkably quiet about it. It was so egregious that I can’t really see anyone, here or anywhere, defending it with much vigor.
It was late, but the hit was clean. And actually, watching the replay, the hit wasn’t that late. “Not that late” in that I counted 1-2-3-hit from Betts’ shooting the puck, as opposed to 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-hit, or something. It wasn’t ridiculously late, and Betts should have had his head up.
I hope Betts gets better, and I thought Brash was done anyway because of his Orr thing in pre-game.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 27, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I know I’m in the minority here on this one, but that hit was legal. Betts didn’t have the puck anymore but neither did anyone else and he was the last to touch it. Brash hit him with his shoulder. Betts just wasn’t ready for it. It wasn’t after a whistle or anything. Betts just happened to get hurt, and that is the only reason anyone is talking about this.
It’s roughing at worst and probably no penalty at all (the call on the ice). A suspension would be ridiculous for that. I can’t speak to the stuff with Orr pregame because I didn’t see it and don’t know the rules on that.
Rule 86.6 is where he’ll get it I’m guessing.
86.6 Pre-Game Warm-Up – During the pre-game warm-up (which shall not exceed sixteen (16) minutes in duration) and before the commencement of play in any period, each team shall confine its activity to its own end of the rink.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, the puck was gone for a 3 count. Enough for Betts to follow through, turn and take a step towards the bench for the line change. It was nothing but dirty. Whether it was with a shoulder or an elbow will only decide if its a 1-2 or 5 game suspension. I did look like a shoulder to me, but I would expect Brash to be sitting for at least one, maybe more.
I will give you that the hit was late in regards to when Betts let go of the puck, but only in the sense that it makes interference a possible penalty. Guys get hit after they let go of the puck all the time. When you are skating with your head down, you might get lit up, and that is what happened to Betts.
This was a hit in open ice, face to face, with a shoulder, in the 1st period of a close game, against a guy who had just touched the puck (even if it came one count too late). That just does not warrant a suspension IMO, and should be much lower on the league’s list of priorities than intentional sticks to the face, clotheslining guys from behind, etc.
All this said, you guys are probably right that he will be suspended, but I think it’s going to be because of the Orr thing or the combination of the two.
The hit was absolutely face to face. It wasn’t from behind or the side. Betts may have just turned, but this is absolutely clear. They were chest-to-chest.
The hit happened one second after Betts released the puck and before anyone else touched it. Whether or not that is “just after” is a matter of semantics and opinion, I suppose.
I’m not excusing the hit because I think it was over the line (mostly because the hit was unnecessary, Betts was defenseless and because even if Brash didn’t lead with his elbow he followed through with his elbow), but it certainly was “just after Betts had touched the puck” (about 2 seconds after) AND it definitely was face to face (Betts was skating towards Brash but he looking up ice).
This photo, just as Brash delivers the hit, is clear evidence of that.
Betts was only defenseless because he wasn’t paying attention. If he were in the air, on the ice or on the boards then he might be defenseless.
Just because someone doesn’t defend themselves doesn’t make them defenseless.
And just because someone is theoretically able to defend himself doesn’t make a hit clean.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think DMG stated my problem with the hit better than me calling it “defenseless”.
The reason I used the term “defenseless” was because Betts had just dumped the puck and was heading back to his bench. That, to me, makes the hit unnecessary. While that alone doesn’t make it a cheap shot, his intent in the play (he was obviously looking for someone to hit) and the fact that he followed through with his elbow makes it a cheap shot.
The still is misleading. When Brashear targeted Betts and made his beeline for him, Betts was facing another direction and only turned right as Brashear was arriving. And two seconds is a very long time to wait before hitting a guy.
Bottom line: he hit a guy significantly after he’d let go of the puck, in the head. It was a cheap shot.
Sorry, I’m going to believe the image before I believe you saying that it wasn’t a face to face hit. Calling the hit not “face to face” is misleading.
I’ve already said that it was “over the line” and I’ll add that to me “over the line” equates to a cheap shot. However don’t try to say that it wasn’t face to face because it clearly was face to face.
About the timing of the hit, I’ll agree that it was late, but I’ve seen many hits in the same amount of time (about 2 seconds late) which have not been called… hell I saw a few last night in the third period against the Caps that certainly weren’t called.
What you see as proving the hit was face-to-face I see as proving the exact opposite. Sure, his shoulders are square to Brash, but his face is looking down the ice to make sure he was clear for a change. He was completely blindsided.
Just because late hits aren’t called doesn’t mean that they aren’t illegal.
Lastly, there is a huge difference between a guy receiving a hit 2 seconds late when he sees the hit coming, and when he doesn’t. Brash’s hit on Betts is definitely the latter.
Yeah, and generally the fact that a player doesn’t see a hit coming even when you are hitting him squarely from the front has no bearing of the legality of the hit. See Stevens’ hit on Lindros, Umberger getting destroyed, etc. It makes it vicious and nasty but there is a big difference between that and it being any sort of penalty.
I can certainly understand why people think a hit one second late in these circumstances when a guy gets caught with his head down should result in a suspension. I just happen to disagree because I think the action, and not the result, should be penalized, and I tend to think the ref made the right call by not calling a penalty when it happened (when they did not have the opportunity to consider the result).
What you see as proving the hit was face-to-face I see as proving the exact opposite.
What does that even mean? The exact opposite of a face-to-face hit is a face-to-back hit. Do you really think that still shot proves a face-to-back hit?
Sure, his shoulders are square to Brash, but his face is looking down the ice to make sure he was clear for a change. He was completely blindsided.
Sure, technically, it was a “blindside hit”, however “blindside hits” aren’t illegal.
Just because late hits aren’t called doesn’t mean that they aren’t illegal.
I never said anything to the contrary.
Lastly, there is a huge difference between a guy receiving a hit 2 seconds late when he sees the hit coming, and when he doesn’t. Brash’s hit on Betts is definitely the latter.
And (as I’ve said) a hit 2 seconds late, when he doesn’t see it coming, after he just cleared the puck and was headed to his bench, AND which was followed through with an elbow is a cheap shot, in my view. What’s your point?
No, face-to-face means that they are looking face to face. That picture clearly shows that he is not looking at Brash.
blindside hits aren’t illegal
except when the player doesn’t have the puck and isn’t expecting to be hit.
About the timing of the hit, I’ll agree that it was late, but I’ve seen many hits in the same amount of time (about 2 seconds late) which have not been called… hell I saw a few last night in the third period against the Caps that certainly weren’t called.
I was responding to this statment, which to me reads as excusing late hits because “they happen all the time”. To me there is a major difference between a hit that might be a step late, or careless, but not malicious, and what Brash did.
No, face-to-face means that they are looking face to face. That picture clearly shows that he is not looking at Brash.
Please. We’re not talking LITERALLY “face to face”. If your shoulders and hips are square to the hit, it’s face to face. It shouldn’t matter (to the term “face to face hit”) that you’re not looking in the direction you’re skating.
except when the player doesn’t have the puck and isn’t expecting to be hit.
No, those types of hits aren’t illegal either. That type of hit is illegal if it’s late (like this one was) and/or if you hit with an elbow (which this one apparently did).
To me there is a major difference between a hit that might be a step late, or careless, but not malicious, and what Brash did.
I’m pretty sure we’re on the same side of this argument. I’ve repeatedly noted that I think the hit was late and unnecessary (and I’ll agree with calling it “careless”). My main issue is with people claiming things about the hit that just aren’t true (like that it was not a face to face hit).
I have to respond to the “two seconds” notion. Just as it was clearly face-to-face, it was clearly one second (or maybe slightly less than that). Check the video – I can almost count to “one mississippi” between when he releases the puck and the hit comes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGwrm3sGU8E
Maybe one second is still an eternity in hockey, but I’m just trying to correct some misconceptions about this. I think there is a tendency to remember this as being more flagrantly illegal than it was because of the viciousness of the hit and the resulting injury.
Scott Stevens on Paul Kariya is about as long a delay as I am willing to allow. This was clearly even later than that hit. I’m not judging it in objective normal time standards. Hockey time has it’s own clock, like a QB in the pocket. Watching that hit any educated fan (educated in the hockey sense not academic sense) knows that hit was late.
The delay on the Stevens/Kariya hit, as best I can count it out, was almost exactly the same. I also think it was considerably more dangerous, though not really any more illegal. Pretty comparable situation – total imbalance in player size/strength, guy gets caught with his head down looking away right after getting rid of the puck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8up-tkxZ4r8 (at 29 second mark).
I’m not condoning what Brashear did. I’m not saying it wasn’t late enough to justify a roughing or interference penalty. I just don’t think it warrants a suspension, and if Betts hadn’t been hurt, I don’t think anyone would think it does.
Stevens had already lined up Kariya before Kariya moved the puck. Brash cut back and lined up Betts after Betts had already moved the puck. I also think there was a longer delay on the Brash hit.
Brashear had turned to line up Betts way before he moved the puck.
In the top photo, Brashear was already turning towards Betts. Notice that the puck is on the centerline and Brashear is behind the “Canon” logo.
In the middle photo Betts is about to release it, and Brashear is already headed towards him. (Brashear is on the top side of the “Canon” logo.)
In the last photo Betts has released the puck and Brashear is taking a stride at Betts. (Brashear is on the lower side of the “Canon” logo)
There was a second skater on the grassy knoll!
by Scott in Shaw on Apr 27, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
what gets me is that brashear has ZERO momentum at this point. he basically walks over and delivers a head shot. to me at least, the intent is so obvious and ugly.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 27, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Unfortunately, I think the true test of determining whether it was legal is to ask either:
a) an impartial observer, or
b) yourself what your reaction would be if one of the Caps key players had been hit like that.
In both cases, I think overwhelmingly the response would be to call for a suspension. I definitely think Brash should, and will be, suspended by the league. Let’s just hope Brash didn’t come to the realization that he was going to be busted for shoving Orr in the pregrame and take it upon himself to leave his mark since he knew he’d be out for a Game 7.
I think I can honestly say that I would feel the same way about this if the shoe were on the other foot. Hard to know, though, what with fandom and all.
Put it to you this way: if the NHL is concerned about suspending dangerous play, they have a funny way of showing it. The Rangers have committed more serious/dangerous infractions in this series with no consequences. If they suspend Brash for the hit on Betts, they are suspending the result and not the action taken.
If they suspend Brash for the hit on Betts, they are suspending the result and not the action taken.
I agree completely and that is one of my biggest complaints about NHL discipline. The Brash hit was bad but the Callahan hit on Green was worse. Green got up and is fine so there is no talk of a suspension. In reality nailing a guy face first into the glass from behind is a thousand times more dangerous than lining a guy up in open ice, albeit late. If Betts gets up and goes to the bench or returns to the game nobody is discussing a suspension, they are just complaining about a missed call that should have given the Rags a PP.
Do you mean Dubinsky? He was the one who got the misconduct.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 27, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I know I’m in the minority here on this one
No, I’m with you. I thought the hit was worth at least a major, as it was to the head, after the play and the opponent was not protecting himself.
But if it was with the shoulder, only 5 minutes on that one. If it was with the elbow, he ought to get dinged a game. I don’t think he left his feet, which mitigates the offense.
But the pre-game thing, where he skated across center ice and initiated contact, is going to get him dinged anyway. And the hit just adds fuel to the fire.
I think in terms of the Morrisonn “bite”…I’m surprised we, as fans, don’t hear more about other bites. I have to believe with the amount of jawing and face pawing that goes on in post whistle scrums that people aren’t cut on teeth more often.
I expect that this is just the Rags using the press as a tool to get more PPs in game 7.
As for Brash…he’s gone for 1-2 games IMO.
as far as reputations go...
I think that as far as reputations being created during this series it’s that the ranger are whiny sore losers.
There was a whole letter full of it sent to Bettman
by renstar on Apr 27, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think everything in that letter was justified. If fans were spitting on Capitals players or an opposing team’s arena’s staff weren’t responding to an escalating situation, we’d be justifiably upset too.
Eric Fehr wins more puck battles (especially along the boards) per minute of play than any other Capital. His Corsi is (still?) superb. I’m befuddled.
I think that the Caps should issue a press release saying that they’re planning on increasing security at VC on Saturday as part of measures to protect Caps fans from Torts.
I’ll preemptively agree with you Tyler, Tarik and Corey have really dropped the ball on this. (Did I just miss the article?) How can a guy that shows so much upside get only 3 minutes of ice time in a game like yesterday’s? This is a question that needs to be asked.
It seems reasonable that Fehr should have skated 5 minutes in the 3rd period alone.
Yes, he shows a lot of upside, but if he’s not doing what the coaches expect him too then he’s not going to get playing time. I like Fehr a lot when he’s along hte boards….Tyler nailed it (except I still think Kozlov is the best along the boards). But he’s not doing it enough…he’s loan SOG yesterday was a Schultesque half slapper from the top of the circles.
In order for him to be effective (and for him to get more TOI) he needs to learn to dump the puck in and battle along hte boards. Skating the puck in and shooting from outside the circles isn’t getting it done this time of year.
That is one of the reasons that I would like to see Corey of TEB ask this question. Help me understand what Eric isn’t doing, that Flash is. When you only skate 3:25, you aren’t going to get many chances. I understand that he needs to prove himself, but if he’s being benched with a 5-1 lead, either the decision is already made and he’s gone, or there is something else like an injury that is coming into play.
I still think Kozlov is the best along the boards
Insanity!!. Kozlov is not even in the discussion for best along the boards. He has his moments because he has hands and size but he is not that good at winning battles. Backstrom is the best on the team at winning board battles. Green is also very good (I love his reverse hits). The entire 4th line is better. Go back and look at game 5. Every time Kozlov tried to lean on a guy his feet slid out from under him. Kozlov has smooth hands when he has the puck but is terrible at accepting passes and corralling moving pucks off the boards. I’m utterly baffled as to where that opinion came from.
There is no argument about this…Kozlov is the best on the team along the boards…he consistently takes on 2 and 3 defenders and comes out with the puck. I’ve said a million times throughout the year..the ONLY person I’ve seen that might be better than him is Jagr.
Conversation over…as I said there is no argument aobut this. Fehr isn’t along the boards enough to even bring up. Backs is getting better…and Green..well…Green shouldn’t even be mentioned.
There is no argument about this
Really? Cuz I thought I just made one. Don’t be dismissive because I disagree with you. Address my points. Why shouldn’t Green be mentioned? Green wins battles in a non-traditional manner so it is under-appreciated(kinda like his defensive game as a whole, no?) Green sees a guy coming, braces himself, hits the guy back, and slides away. He is so quick and good at skating that me makes it look relatively easy. Same with Backstrom. I don’t know what you are talking about “Backs is getting better.” Backstrom was really good at it from day 1. That was what impressed me the most as a rookie, his ability and awareness in his own end and his ability to win pucks on the boards. You are enamored with Kozlov’s skill and potential but the reality is he rarely brings that skill and fulfills his potential for 60 minutes, much less several games in a row. Kozlov occasionally wins a puck battle against 2 or 3 defenders on the boards. Not consistently. Kozlov doesn’t do anything consistently. Seriously? Jagirl is the only person better at winning pucks on the boards? Did you never watch Forsberg? Or Mike Richards? Or Joe Thornton? Or, dare I say it, Crosby? If Kozlov was so consistent and dominant along the boards why are his numbers so underwhelming considering how much ice he gets with AO.
Maybe our definitions along the boards are different. I was talking specifically in the offensive zone…Kozlov’s backchecking has always been suspect and I was not addressing Green’s play in the defensive zone. When I saw Fehr needs to play along the boards…I was implying in the offensive zone…as in he doesn’t do it enough.
Where did I say that I was enamored by Kozlov’s potential? Oh that’s right…I haven’t…I stated he is the one of the best I’ve ever seen at protecting the puck along the boards.
Again, I never said winning along the boards, these are words you are adding to substantiate your argument about Green.
Try watching the game as a whole instead of just highlights…then you might notice the work Kozlov does ONCE in the zone at playing the puck along the boards.
You said “best along the boards.” I wasn’t aware that winning pucks along the boards wasn’t part of that. I said that you are enamored with Kozlov’s potential just because I see no other reason you would be so positive about him. You seem to have a thing for the guys that show Flashes (get it!) of brilliance and then disappear for a long time. You succumb to the hockey version of the broken window fallacy.
Green winning the puck along the boards is a huge part of his play along the boards. I’m not doing anything artificial to substantiate my argument about Green. You still have not made any attempt to refute my position on Green. I never said anything about Fehr. I can’t come to any conclusion because he doesn’t get enough ice to know.
Your implications about Kozlov make NO sense. You are telling me that Kozlov consistently beats double and triple teams on the boards, and can’t rack up points? With AO and Backstrom on the ice? So Kozlov wins the puck, and there are either 2 or 3 guys on the D to cover AO, Backstrom, and both D? And Kozlov doesn’t have 80 assists? Lunacy. Think about what the logical conclusions of that argument are.
Don’t question how much hockey I watch. It’s disgusting how much hockey I watch, and for how long I’ve been watching it. Playoff hockey has literally caused a fight in my romantic relationships every year since I was about 16. I have the Center Ice package and NHLN and that is about all I watch. I watch FULL GAMES and so I know that Kozlov disappears and is inconsistent. I’ve known that since way before he was ever a Cap. I knew what we were getting when he became a Cap. YOU seem to watch the few times his skill manifests itself in a good play and conclude that that sort of play is representative of Kozlov’s overall game, night in and night out. This is not the case. I dunno, maybe Kozlov just grew red hair when I wasn’t looking.
A valid point…when making the assumption regaridn the “best along the boards” comment.
But I have never been enamored by Kozlov as a player on the Caps…if anything he frustrates me more than any other offensive player (accept Nyls). He lack of point production is a point of contention with anyone that watched the Caps on a regular basis. So let me try to rephrase this to make you happy…“Kozlov is, IMO, one of the best at playing along the boards in the offensive zone”..does that make you a bit happier?
And you’re absolutely right, I do have a thing for Flash. But not in the way you think, if you read what I’ve said over the course of the season (starting in the preseason) I’ve said reupping him for 2 years at 750k per will turn out to be one of the shrewdest deals made by GMGM. Granted I pegged him for closer to 25 goals a year. At this point, Kozlov is a more expensive Flash…same point production, same TOI, a helluva lot more money against the cap.
I just wish you’d respond to my post instead of responding to my post with a few words tossed in to make your counter point look better.
Please, let me know how I did not respond to your point. I will be more clear. I assumed when you said “the boards” you meant the wall the encircles the whole ice. I assumed when you meant “play along the boards” you meant not only “stick handling near the boards” but “winning pucks on the boards.” You said that “Kozlov is the best on the boards” and that “there is no argument.” You said that “the ONLY person I’ve seen that might be better than him is Jagr.” Please let me know how I mischaracterized your point and I’ll respond accordingly.
And Kozlov’s job in the defensive zone (since you’ve brought it up) is that of a winger…a totally different assignment than a Green (defense) and Backs (center)….as different as your comparisons Forsberg (center)…Richards (center)…Thornton (center)…Crosby (center).
I daresay that if you watch Kozlov for an entire game…in the offensive zone…you’ll see that he is amazing along the boards on a line that does not cycle (since you used the fourth line as an example)…which makes changes things entirely.
And just for the record…if you look at OV’s ES points I’d be willing to bet that you’ll see Kozlov a large % of the time…since he’s not out there on the PP (where OV got 46 of his points).
IIRC the boards circle the whole ice. Offensive and defensive zone. Board work encapsulates both. Sure, Kozlov has a different responsibility in the D zone but the guys I named win puck battles on the boards in ALL zones. I don’t know if you have ever played hockey, but if you do then you realize that wingers have a HUGE responsibility to win puck battles on the boards to clear the zone. I watch full games. All zones. Kozlov has a big body and can protect a puck but is nowhere near the top, on this team or in the league, in terms of board play.
Or they could make an announcement before the game with the puck warning. "Caution during the game irate visiting coaches might take their frustrations out on fans. Please pay attention foreign objects that might fly off the visitors bench.
In my opinion the fans in 111/112 ought to wear red hard hats with stickers to be placed on the hats (once in your seats to avoid getting stopped at the gate) like:
“Increased water bottle security”
“Tortorella Guard ®”
Or at least some signs:
Maybe a clownish torts face with the mouth cut out and carnival slogans on the board:
Top
"One bottle in wins a prize!!"
Bottom
"Call NHL for redemption"
Yesterday sure was fun.
Brash is going to be suspended, hopefully Mo won’t be. Did anyone see anything like this? It seems really out of character for Mo.
Kozlov’s goal was awesome. Take it to the net, and drop a shoulder to get there.
The added bonus to the Kozlov goal – this almost foreshadowing quote from Marc Staal (whom Kozzie undressed) after Game 1:
Rangers blue-liner Marc Staal was trailing on the play, planning on looking for a rebound, so he got a pretty good look at Dubinsky’s move and goal. I asked him about what happened to Schultz.
“It happens; it’s happened to me a few times,” Staal said. “Obviously we wanted to score, and if you have to do that to another d-man to score, I’m all for it. But you know what it’s like as a defenseman when something like that happens. It’s happened to all of us. As a d-man, I think it’s probably the worst, getting beat one-on-one for a goal. Never a good feeling.”
So, y’know, no one had to ask Staal how he felt about getting torched on the Kozlov goal…
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Staal got his ankles broken. He sucks, he should never play defense again. Why doesn’t he hit more?
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Stall is the worst defenseman ever. He shouldn’t be playing. He’s a big stiff who can’t skate. The Rangers should bring up anyone to take his place because he’ll never be any good. Nobody gets beat 1 on1 like that. Disgraceful. (Did I cover all the over-reactionary bases?)
by b.orr4 on Apr 27, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Needs more Facebook hate groups.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Bite radius? ; )
Maybe Campbell will have to do a ‘bite radius’ evaluation to determine Morrisonn’s guilt/innocence? ; )
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
No truth to the rumor that this is Morrisonn’s dad:
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
if the bite was so bad, wouldn’t the ranger trainers take pictures of it? not that this didn’t happen, but if i was there, i would certainly have gotten as much evidence as possible.
guess we’ll find out soon, though, because i’d think the caps would need to make a call up.
Just because a Ranger says it happened doesn’t mean it happened. I wouldn’t bet on anything being called on Mo for that unless there is direct video evidence.
As for Brash… he’s facing a suspension for the pre-game thing and the hit. I doubt the league would have suspended him for either individually, but both in the same game….well, that’ll get him a game.
Which gets Nylander back in the line-up… take that for what it’s worth…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 27, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t agree with that conclusion. I don’t think removing brash from the lineup means that Nyls is necessarily added.
I think the idea of callups both a) when there are players here that are either scratched or b) almost ready to go, especially when Hershey’s on their own run right now might be a little premature.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Like to add to this here.
Kozlov’s goal was more than just awesome, it was the kind that can really deflate an opposing goalie. Not only was he hung out to dry by his own defense, but it was his own defense that knocked all 230lbs of Russian Power ontop of him.
Nothing like celebrating ontop of a goalie you just scored on.
Kozzie’s Playoff Career with the Caps:
2 goals, 3.5 assists (I give him a half of an assist in game one, as without Flash’s tip, Kozzie would have had 2nd assist).
For a guy that gets very limited ice time on the PP, I’ll take it. Anyone else still feel like he’s invisible?
Poti vs. Rangers...
Good thing the Rags ran Poti out of town. His stats this year vs. them:
Games: 8
Goals: 3
Assists: 4
Points: 7
PIM: 2
+/- : +3
This would project out to a 30 goal, 70 point season… hate to have one of those on my team. Thank goodness the Caps have three of them….
Let's go Caps!
I Will Never
All the posters who claimed last Thursday that Torts was outcoaching Bruce, the BB should be fired, that GM should be fired, that Semin had to be traded, that Juice should be let go, etc, etc., etc..must write 100 times “I will never jump ship after Game Four again.” You know who you are. ;-)
Or not.
Torts was out-coaching Gabby. Semin has repeatedly demonstrated that he’s uninterested in paying the price to score goals down low in the playoffs, that he diddles with the puck too much inside the offensive blue-line and fails to get the puck in deep, and so on.
(FWIW: I think Erksy and Juice have been excellent throughout this series.)
Outside of writing Lundqvist’s name into the starting lineup, I’d love to hear how he was outcoaching him.
See my reply below – his defensive scheme was frustrating the hell out of the Caps and he worked the refs into his team’s second greatest advantage in Game 2.
How was he not out-coaching Bruce? B/c Bruce rolled the dice on Varly or changed up his lines?
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The water-bottle meltdown goes against Torts in a big way. So does benching Avery for Game 5. So does benching Colton Orr (thereby inviting Brashear to start itshay with impunity).
On Gabby’s side, I like the Stecks/Brads/Laich line. I like the stones he showed to sit Theo. I like that he sent out Brash to send a message (I don’t condone it, but I think it was an effective tactical move). I don’t like the ice-time that Fehr gets.
It will also be interesting to see if the Rags sit Zherdev. Keith Jones called him out last night, and rightly so. Game Sevens are never any fun. I wish the Caps had got on their horse in one of the first two games…this series would be over. While the Pens and Bruins rest…
uhh...uhh...uhh...
You mean Invizherdev? He’s been awful.
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re: Semin
He has 14 pts in 13 career playoff games, and is tied with ovechkin for the Caps team scoring lead this year. He’s tied for the league lead in playoff goals (and has one more than the two time Richard trophy winner). And he’s not doing enough to score goals? Gonna have to disagree with you there.
by TJA on Apr 27, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Torts was out-coaching Bruce. He had totally stymied the Caps’ offense through four games (it wasn’t all Henrik – see the blocked shot total), and Bruce hadn’t made the proper adjustments. He was also working the refs better than Gabby was.
And I think trading Semin remains a topic on which reasonable people can disagree.
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I agreed with you for most of the series but I have rethought my position. I don’t think Torts did much tactically. They are who we thought they were. When they got a lead they collapsed and forced us to get ugly goals. We didn’t. When we got a lead they opened up and got exposed. I don’t think tactics have changed much for either team (goals yesterday weren’t the “drive the net variety”). The only difference I see on a game to game basis is how hard each team comes out. That is definitely on the coach to some point but I have to believe at this time of year it is more on the players to self-motivate. As Schony said, if you need motivation now you are already SOL. Working the refs was shrewd by Torts but that’s about it. Other than that the players are making their coaches look good or bad. Amazing that when the Rags were hustling and winning puck battles (and games) BB was being out-coached. Now with 2 consecutive wins (and less than stellar performances by Hank) Torts is being out-coached. These teams know what their identity is. At this point it’s on them to execute.
All fair points, but the amount of space the Rags took away from the Caps in those first two games and the blocked shots weren’t an accident. Did they go away from it? A little bit – they haven’t been as committed to keeping AO to the outside, for example, and when they’ve pushed him to the inside, they haven’t been good enough on him. Their discipline has obviously sucked at times, and their line combos haven’t worked.
I do think Torts had a coaching edge early and that Gabby hasn’t necessarily had one late, but his plan has started working and the Rags haven’t adjusted. But I do agree that the bottom line is that you’re a genius when you win and an idiot when you lose.
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Tortorella said of Dubinsky a few days ago...
“Dubie is one I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into.”
Are we sure it was Morrisonn who took the bite?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 27, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Unrelated: Smokin’ Al let go from his radio gig
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Did you hear him on the post game show yesterday? It was the most real I had ever seen him act; he should really be like that more often.
I didn’t, actually.
I tend to like his studio work, to be honest. It’s his PbP that is unlistenable.
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He was laughing at the audacity of the Rangers calling out our fans. He started recounting some moments at MSG about how batteries have gone flying past his head, profanities, etc…
Yeah his play by play sucks. When JB has VS games I cringe.
The “homophobic slurs” part, while not funny, is ironic given that MSG has had very public problems with the same issue (though in fan-on-fan situations).
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That and I read an article yesterday where they say “We NEVER cuss at the garden” which is laughable since the whole arena chants asshole every second they get.
From the examiner on Koken:
Koken is to hockey what James Brown is to the NFL – understated but highly entertaining"…..
And Peerless had the great Lewis Black quote that "In New York City, f*ck isn’t a word—it’s a comma."
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by J.P. on Apr 27, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Regarding the Brashear situation, here’s my analysis:
1) the hit on Betts was late, away from the play, and to the head;
2) I haven’t seen a replay that tells me whether it was with the shoulder or the elbow;
3) Brash should have gotten a 5 minute major if it was the shoulder, a suspension if it was the elbow (note that Brendan Witt got 5 games for a cheap elbow to the head of one of the Leafs (I think));
4) combined with the pre-game actions, viz: skating across the center line, initiating contact with an opposing player, he’s gone for Game 7.
Being as we did not bitch about the refs after Game 1, I’m not inclined to offer too much sympathy to the Rags for Game 6.
I’m not inclined to offer too much sympathy to the Rags for Game 6.
Wait. Seriously? The Rags and their fans are bitching about the officiating?
Did they miss the TWO 5-on-3s which resulted from soft penalties against the Caps? Did they miss the goal which resulted from one of those 5-on-3s?, Did they not notice the refs put the whistles away for anything the Rags in the third?
Hell, did they even watch the third period? The refs tried their hardest to get the Rags back in the game… and the Rags BLEW IT!
by superjuan on Apr 27, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Situational officialting?
Seemed odd to see the box score of a rather lop sided game to see the caps had 2 PP’s to the rangers 8. Situational officiating anyone?
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
Here’s what I think about Game 7:
1) A hell of a lot of things are trending in the right direction for the Caps. They’re at home; the Rags are looking disheartened; Avery is either useless or a hindrance, but they can’t win without him; Rangers D is looking shaky; Lundy is looking worse than shaky (thought the Juice and Green goals were very stoppable); and the Capitals are finding their groove on offense, finally.
2) My concern is that the Caps know all this too.
3) Which could lead to the “wrong” Caps team taking the ice on Tuesday. I.e., the team that lost to the Kings, Avalanche and Thrashers at home.
4) I handicap this one at 50-50. Which, I know, means that they might win and they might not, which is a pussy prognostication. Put it this way. The Caps ought to win, and if they show up and play hard and smart, they will.
I agree, but we could have said the same thing last year after Game Six in Philly. I’m taking the safe approach of hoping for the best and expecting the worst.
IMO, things seem a lot more positive/hopeful than last year. In completely subjective, speculative terms, I thought the Caps and Flyers were very evenly matched teams last year, and the series would come down to breaks and bounces. Philly got a few in Game 7, and that was that. This year, the Caps are a better team, and NYR will need a healthy leavening of luck to get out of Game 7 alive.
But, the Caps have shown the repeated ability to lay an egg when they oughtn’t.
We’ll see. My anxiety level is higher now than it has been.
Oh, my, yes. Lundy can steal another one, no doubt.
Man, I hope the Caps can take the lead early and force the Rangers to open it up a bit.
Yep…a lot will come down to who scores the first goal. If the Rags do, they’ll tighten up, and the Caps will have problems getting close shots on Lundquist.
Game 7s are basically arbitrary. Anyone can win one game against any other team. Even the Islanders beat Detroit (in Detroit) this year. Anything can happen based on a few early bounces.
Brash and Green Suspended?
Sports Center just reported both are out for game 7. What is the deal with Green?
Re. Green, I would expect he tweaked his arm/side/shoulder (or whatever it was that was giving him “the flu”) on the blind side hit by Dubinsky.
That sucks.
Brash has a 1pm hearing so there couldn’t be any news about his suspension yet. And nobody has anything (TSN, ESPN, NHL.com) about Green being out.
They just retracted their previous report. I still don’t get why Green would be facing a suspension, unless they meant Morrisonn.
Green...Morrisonn...Erskine...
All Caps defensemen look alike to those guys
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 27, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
rec’d the link for the title of the post. Nice job Caps PR staff. :-)
by Carl Putnam on Apr 27, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice link, and great information.
However, what in the world was going on in the comments section there? I don’t think i’m an elitist, but that really seemed like a conversation between two 10 year olds who just learned some four letter words.
by HateOffSeason on Apr 27, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t read the comments. As a general rule, I steer clear of all comments other than those on this site.
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Brashear anti-suspension
The NHL has just announced that Brashear will be required to play at least 15:00 minutes in game 7.
by meatball20 on Apr 27, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Nice one.
All I can say is that if Brash gets suspended, I don’t want to see Nylander in there. Call me superstitious, but I think 3 minutes of a kinda sorta healthy Clark (or Aucoin in general, or a guy like Beagle) is preferable.
Agreed – Backstrom’s penalty was a legit (stupid) penalty; Erskine’s was a hockey play, not a foul.
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TSN quoting sources saying Betts has a broken orbital bone, likely done for playoffs.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
Well, I’d rather win it fair and square, not by having one of our bit players injure one of their key guys. Of course, there is the fact that Avery got away with a butt-end and a spear that were clearly intended to injure. But on balance, I’d say it’s a shame for Betts to get injured like that.
agreed
It sucks that he got injured in such a way.
I hope they don’t try to head-hunt Brads or Gordo tomorrow.
Well…assuming Brashear gets the privilege of watching this one from the pressbox, I would be very surprised of Mr Orr is not in the lineup with specific intentions of settling things up. I would also be surprised if he confines himself to the likes of Bradley and Gordon. I imagine he’ll take a shot at lining up some of the skill guys.
I disagree- the stakes are too high in this game. If Orr cheapshots someone and gives the Caps a 5 minute power play, the only message that is sent is the one booking tee times next week. I think it’s much more likely that we’ll see it hit the fan at MSG next season- much like COL/DET in ’97.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 27, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Karma comes via your own teammate hitting you in the face with a shot, not via a goon taking a cheap shot.
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I don’t think it’s fair to blame the victim in any way here – players are supposed to be able to assume that their opponents are going to be playing if not within the rules than awfully close to them. Brash wasn’t.
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I just don’t see how you can say that Brash wasn’t playing at least close to the rules. His hit was a moment late. You have to keep your head up. If he hit with his elbow or something, that’s a different story, but that’s not how it looks to me.
I guess I just think it was later and less necessary than you think. A moment late in real time, sure, but late enough that Brash had plenty of time after Betts moved the puck to decide whether or not to throw the hit, which makes it way late in my book. And it was high.
Perhaps more importantly, if the League doesn’t properly police stuff like this, players start taking it into their own hands on the ice, and you’ll get Colton Orr decapitating Alex Semin. Will everyone be happy then?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
you’ll get Colton Orr decapitating Alex Semin. Will everyone be happy then?
I’ll be shocked if this does not occur tomorrow. No Brash to provide deterrence. That leaves it up to Bradley, who is not a good fighter.
Orr is going to try and put at least one of the Caps’ skilled players on a stretcher.
If you remember game 5, Orr did try to decapitate Semin, and got 10 min for it.
This is game 7, its unlikely either team will risk the series to enact retribution.
I’m pretty sure the “Brash provides deterrence” was debunked as a myth on Snopes.
by Rob Parker on Apr 27, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Karma Police?
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
That also seems like a tremendous amount of information about an injury for the NHL. Is this a sympathy leak?
If a guy’s done, there’s no use in protecting the nature of the injury. Besides, if he’s not done and comes back wearing a fishbowl, I don’t think anyone’s gonna think “maybe it’s a shoulder.”
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I’d doubt the Rags put THAT much thought into it, but a one game suspension for one reason could be construed as justifiable for the other in some minds.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t like seeing someone get hurt, but if anyone they couldn’t afford to lose not named Henrik, that was who.
I just hope game 7 isn’t played with the whistles. They were calling penalties on the Caps all day and Ovechkin got hacked, tripped, slashed, bumped numerous times in the third with no calls.
The Caps are 7-4 this season in McCreary-reffed games and 16-17 since the lockout, and 5-0/10-7 in games refferd by Brad Meier (yesterday’s other ref).
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Haha, yeah, I’m not sure he hates the caps, I just think he sucks and for whatever reason refs a ton of our games.
Caps are 9-1 this year with Sutherland reffing and 4-3 with Devorski. But those records, of course, don’t make these guys good refs.
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Don’t care about the records. EVERY game I watch that Sutherland refs, Caps or not Caps, is a god damn circus.
And Devorski is the jackass who has no idea what the Goalie Interference rule allows him to call. “Your Action” is different from “You”… and his inability to understand that, or properly call it based on historical and future evidence cost us game 7 last year.
Calls were missed on both sides yesterday. The Caps should have been down a man for 5 minutes at least after Brashear’s hit on Betts.
Ticky-tack fouls were also handed out to both sides yesterday. The first PP goal for the Caps came on an awfully debatable holding call.
I expect the same thing to happen tomorrow.
The officiating has not been one-sided at all in this series.
On Officiating
Sometimes I get a little caught up in criticizing…The refs have incredibly hard jobs on the ice and can’t see everything all the time, especially in a chippy series like this.
They deserve more credit and are trying their best.
now back to bashing…
I think the ref-bashing has gotten to a fairly ridiculous level. I mean, check out the comments on Scotty’s blog here.
Everyone’s watching the same games, everyone thinks their team is getting the Jim Henson. Chances are, that means the officials are either doing a good job or an evenly horrible job. Either way, it should indicate that the series isn’t being decided by the stripes.
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No problem. I try not to be a johnny-one-note on this issue, but I mostly fail.
Fwiw, I think the officiating has been bad this series. Just even-handedly bad. It’s ridiculous that the NHL can’t get better refereeing in these critical games.
“even-handedly bad” I can certainly buy.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I just hope
that the refs call it tight from the get-go tomorrow night. If the game gets out of hand on the scoreboard, it could get very ugly on the ice. We’ll probably need the refs to be in it for the full 60 minutes as much as we need the Caps to be.
Look, the Caps have lost key players to injury in the playoffs past. Kris King took out both Cicarelli and Hatcher in the 90 playoffs. Yes, the Caps beat the Rags that year, but it left them unequipped to face the Bruins. Tough breaks, it’s the playoffs, guys play hard and stuff happens. Too bad for Betts, he’s a good guy, but it’s the playoffs.
And where was the suspension (or even the minor penalty) when Pat Verbeek sliced open Rod Langway’s leg with his skate?
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Slight reservations, remembering Filatov.
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Interesting move
Ansimov took a big step up this year, and there were those in the NY media — ok, Larry Brooks, so it wasn’t really “media” — who were shouting for his recall for much of the year. Hey…Gomez, Drury, Naslund, and Zherdev haven’t scored. At least this kid showed he could score at the AHL level (37-44-81 in 80 games).
Of course, Alexandre Giroux could score at that level, too.
Maybe the Rangers have figured out that they need their requirement of Vitamin R (Russian).
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 27, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
does anyone have that video of the brash hit, and/or the sha-mo biting sighting?
by oates_meal on Apr 27, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I’d like to see the reverse angle, if there is one. As it hasn’t surfaced by now I don’t think it exists. I’m still not sure whether the initial contact is with a shoulder or with an elbow.
If Brash gets suspended for a shoulder hit of that variety, Dubinsky ought to go for boarding/crosschecking Green from behind.
Even if it is the shoulder... he is still gone
WAY late, stupid retalitation hit for a clean hit from someone else, and whatever body part Brash used to deliver the blow, the point is that he was deliberately going for the head.
Dubinsky got a misconduct for the hit. I doubt it merits a suspension. (Would you settle for a bite in the arm?)
Rec’ing that ID. Memories…
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 27, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
there’s certainly the chicken-or-the-egg debate of whether the team is shutting down the Rangers because of Simeon Varlamov or whether Simeon Varlamov’s solid play is proving the Capitals defense is better than people thought
The same Ranger’s offense that got 4 goals in Game 1 had the second lowest Goals For in the entire conference in the regular season. The only team with less GF is getting the first draft pick this year.
That’s no slight on our stellar goaltending or passionate defense, but that fact probably isn’t hurting us any either.
I don’t see too much chicken-or-the-egg here either – the Caps D is better than people in the mainstream thought, but we knew that all along. Varly is shutting down the Rangers and the D is helping him to do so. It’s chicken-and-the-egg.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
re: eminger and now fehr…as a nats fan, this immediately makes me think of the mysterious bench-start-bench-minors-recall-minors-recall journey of ryan church.
inexplicable. the same ryan church that’s now batting .357 with a .964 OPS in new york.
with church — since his play on the field was obviously superior to other outfielders — we could only assume that he was getting the shaft because of his attitude or because of some personality conflict with frank/jimbo. and then tom boswell wrote an entire column straight from bowden’s mouth, calling church out for an inability to play through injuries, questioning his toughness.
is it possible fehr is getting jerked around for reasons other than his play on game day? didn’t we suspect this kind of thing with eminger? work ethic/ attitude concerns? i only mention this because it seems so painfully obvious that he deserves more than 3 minutes and change of ice time…especially in a game where the caps were out to a gigantic lead. and of course it does nothing to explain why flash is the player given a permanent spot on the top two lines.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
55 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
(updated 2.13.2012 at 1:00 PM EST)
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